HS Code: 030111
Ornamental freshwater fish
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📋 Code Structure

Chapter
Chapter 03 covers fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, including live, fresh or chilled, frozen, dried, salted, smoked, etc. This chapter does not include aquatic mammals (classified in Chapter 01), ornamental freshwater plants (classified in Chapter 06), or caviar substitutes (classified in Chapter 16). The core is to distinguish animal species and processing states.
Heading
Heading 0301 covers live fish, including ornamental fish, food fish and other live fish. It is further subdivided according to use and species, such as 0301.11 for ornamental freshwater fish, 0301.19 for other ornamental fish, 0301.91 for trout, etc. The key distinction lies in the live state and use (ornamental or food).
Digit Breakdown
The first 2 digits 03 represent Chapter 03 'Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates'. The 3rd-4th digits 01 represent heading 0301 'Live fish'. The 5th-6th digits 11 represent subheading 0301.11 'Ornamental freshwater fish', where the fifth digit 1 indicates ornamental use, and the sixth digit 1 indicates freshwater fish. This code applies only to live, freshwater fish for ornamental purposes, such as goldfish, koi, tropical ornamental fish, etc.
Classification Basis
This commodity is live freshwater fish and is for ornamental purposes, which conforms to the description of 0301.11. If it were marine ornamental fish, it would be classified under 0301.19; if it were live food fish, it would be classified under 0301.9x; if it were dead fish or processed products, it would be classified under other headings. Therefore, use (ornamental) and water type (freshwater) are the key factors for classification under this code.

📝 Declaration Elements

Product name
Fill in the specific ornamental fish species name, such as goldfish, koi, guppy, etc. Do not write 'ornamental fish' in general terms.
⚠️ Only writing 'ornamental fish' or 'tropical fish' without specifying the exact species.
Use
Clearly declare as 'ornamental' to distinguish from food, breeding, scientific research or other uses.
⚠️ Mistakenly filling in 'food' or 'breeding', resulting in incorrect classification.
State
Declare as 'live'; if dead or frozen, etc., it should be classified under other codes.
⚠️ Not indicating 'live', or mistakenly reporting as 'fresh' or 'frozen'.
Water type
Indicate 'freshwater' to distinguish from marine ornamental fish (0301.19).
⚠️ Not indicating water type, or mistakenly reporting as 'marine'.
Scientific name
Provide the Latin scientific name to facilitate accurate species identification by customs, especially when endangered species are involved.
⚠️ Providing only the common name, making it impossible to match the scientific name.
Specification
Fill in individual size, body length or weight, such as 'body length 5-8 cm'.
⚠️ Not filling in specifications, or using inconsistent units.
Packaging method
Indicate transport packaging, such as 'oxygenated plastic bag', 'foam box', etc.
⚠️ Not indicating packaging, or mistakenly reporting as retail packaging.
Endangered status
Declare whether it belongs to CITES Appendix or nationally protected species; if so, certificates are required.
⚠️ Concealing endangered status, leading to legal risks.
Example:
Example of customs declaration elements: Product name: Goldfish (Carassius auratus) Use: Ornamental State: Live Water type: Freshwater Specification: Body length 5-8 cm Packaging: Oxygenated plastic bag, outer foam box Endangered: No Remarks: None Note: The above is a simulated filling; actual declaration must be adjusted according to the goods.
Common Mistakes:

🎯 Classification Logic

Basis
The core basis for classification is: 1) live; 2) freshwater; 3) ornamental use. All three are indispensable. If it is marine ornamental fish, it is classified under 0301.19; if it is live food fish, it is classified under 0301.9x; if it is dead fish or processed products, it is classified under 0302-0305, etc. At the same time, attention should be paid to whether the species is endangered, but endangered status does not affect the HS code, only the regulatory conditions.
Confused Codes:
0301.19 - Other ornamental fish
0301.19 is marine ornamental fish or other non-freshwater ornamental fish, while 0301.11 is limited to freshwater ornamental fish.
0301.91 - Trout (live)
0301.91 is live trout, usually for food or breeding; if for ornamental use, it should be classified under 0301.11 or 0301.19 according to water type.
0301.99 - Other live fish
0301.99 is other live fish, including live food fish; if it is ornamental freshwater fish, it is classified under 0301.11.
0302.11 - Fresh or chilled trout
0302.11 is fresh or chilled trout, not live, and usually for food.
0305.51 - Dried cod
0305.51 is dried cod, not live, and for food.
Self-Check:

❓ FAQ

Q: How to query the HS code for ornamental freshwater fish?
A: First confirm that the commodity is live, freshwater, and ornamental. Then look up HS Chapter 03, heading 0301, subheading 0301.11. You can use the General Administration of Customs website or HS code query tools, entering keywords such as 'ornamental fish' and 'freshwater' to filter. Note the distinction from marine ornamental fish (0301.19) and live food fish (0301.9x).
Q: What is the difference between 0301.11 and 0301.19?
A: 0301.11 specifically refers to ornamental freshwater fish, such as goldfish and koi; 0301.19 refers to other ornamental fish, mainly marine ornamental fish, such as clownfish and coral fish. The difference lies in the water type: freshwater vs. marine. When declaring, the water type must be clearly indicated to avoid classification errors.
Q: What regulatory documents are required for importing ornamental fish?
A: Generally, an 'Import Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit', an official quarantine certificate from the exporting country, and an import/export permit for endangered species (if CITES Appendix species are involved) are required. In addition, entry must be at designated ports and isolation quarantine must be accepted. Specific requirements are subject to the latest customs regulations.
Q: How to fill in the use when declaring ornamental fish?
A: The use should be clearly filled in as 'ornamental', not 'food', 'breeding' or 'scientific research'. If there are mixed uses, declare according to the main use, which may affect classification. If uncertain, it is recommended to consult customs or a professional customs broker.
Q: If the ornamental fish is an endangered species, will the HS code change?
A: The HS code remains unchanged, still 0301.11, but regulatory conditions will increase, requiring an import/export certificate for endangered species. Customs may implement stricter inspections for endangered species. Therefore, when declaring, truthfully state whether it is endangered and submit the corresponding documents.
Q: What are the consequences of mistakenly declaring marine ornamental fish as 0301.11?
A: This constitutes false declaration, which may lead to customs penalties, tax recovery, fines, and even affect the enterprise's credit rating. If endangered species are involved, legal liability may also be incurred. It is recommended to declare truthfully and apply for advance classification if necessary.
Q: How to declare the transport packaging of ornamental fish?
A: The packaging method should be truthfully filled in, such as 'oxygenated plastic bag + foam box'. If it is retail packaging, indicate it. Packaging affects quarantine and inspection methods, but does not affect the HS code. When declaring, ensure the packaging meets live transport requirements.
Q: What is the export tax rebate situation for 0301.11?
A: The export tax rebate rate will be adjusted according to national policies. It is recommended to check the latest export tax rebate rate database or consult the tax authorities. Generally, ornamental fish exports may enjoy tax rebates, but conditions must be met. Specific rates are not provided here; please refer to official publications.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.